The National tribune., 1887-09-01

Pa, in command of 40 men, with instructions
30 cover the rear OF the brigade and not 70
allow anyone 10 pass TO the rear unless
wounded. The men were lying upon the
ground, some screening themselves from the
scorchIng rays of the sun with shelter tents,
wondering what would be the next move.
The writer, who was sitting on one end of a
rail fence winch rested upon the ground
was passively listening 20 some jesting re-
marks about some girls In Philadelphia
made by a Sergeant, who was sitting upon
the other end of the rails.
Ii was ] o'clock when the whiz Of a shell,
which struck the Sergeant in the breast
was followed by
A STREAM OF FIRE
from l25 guns ON Seminary Ridge, directed
at the small clump OF trees IN the rear OF the
69lh. Fortunately for the men IN the front
the fire of the enemy was too high, yet Ter
rible ON account OF ats duration, lasting two
hours Cushings battery having been dis-
abled and The larger part OF the men killed
or wounded, Capt. Cushing advanced toward
Gen. Webb, ms pants torn by piece OF shell
that had wounded him, aud IN the mos'
nonchalant manner said:
General, il j had some more men could
work my guns"
Webb replied: "Some of the men here
viii work your guns"
Men from the list Pa, who were near the
guns, handled them until after the enemy
had crossed the Emmitlsburg road.
IN the meantime Gen. Webb ordered
Adi't Banes OF his staff to bring up two bat
teries. lie Immediately arose from the
ground, went 10 the rear about 100 PAGES
united his horse from sapling, mounted
and under cloud OF bursting shells sue
ceeded IN bringing up COwans LIST n. y
battery. The men of our regiment moved
10 the right and left TO give passage TO the
battery, which unlmbered a lew PAGES IL
our front, and was Immediately in action
and did most excellent service.
About O'Clock p. m. we noticed lines ol
iniaBtTy emerging from the woods on Semi
nary Ridge, preparing for an assault Oui
sklrmIsheTs, who were some distance ~
front of the EmmIttsburg road, looking tc
the rear, believed that our main line
HAD BEEN DRIVEN BACK
or destroyed under the terrible fire of the
enemys artillery; therefore IL is not sur
prisDg that the enemy labored under the
same impression, and advanced with the
assurance of success Our artillery having
ceased firing, another false impression was
made upon the enemy, who believed they
had silenoed our guns.
On moved this living tide Of Southern
chivalry-Picketts Division OF Nlrginlans
in the center, supported on has right 10y
Wilcox and on has left by Pettigrew. The
line of Pickett was left-Oblique.
Our skirmishers fell back, having TO cr0s'
two fences that lined the Emmittsburg road
In doing 50 many were killed or wounded. Oui
batteries, hitherto silent, were making terrible
havoc in the advancing line; but undlsmayed,
Pickett's men pressed forward 10 the ciump o
trees, which was the objective of the enemy I
artillery. Two brigades to the left and one Il
the right of COdori's house crossed the two
fences on the Emmttsburg road. Theiraiign
ment was disturbed not only by the impedi
ment offered by the fences, but by the terrific
fire from the Second Division OF the SeconC
Corps.
Pittigrew's Division had moved forward or
the lett of Pickett, and many Of his men had
advanced withina few PAGES of the l2th n. j..
OF the Second Brigade, Hayss Division. on Ou
right. The head of the line, Wedge-shaped
approached thes stone wall, firing rs il advanced
The G9th and 7lst Pa. replied,
LOADING AND FIRING AT WILL.
The artillery had ceased firing Cushing hat
fallen, shot through the face. The two com
panies Of the fist on the right of the 69th haC
been forced to change position TO the rear, oye
the open space on the right OF the 69th. Armis
tead led his men, aud the stone wall was passed
The 72d Pa, which was 10 the left and rear o
the 69th, moved by right-Aank right-oblieu
toward the north stone wall. Coming TO from
under fire, about 90 PAGES from the front wall
upward of 20 OF our men fell, killed o
wounded.
Rapid firing at close range now took place
ArmisIead had fallen few PAGES TO the righ
and rear of the right company of the 69th
The COniederates who had crossed the wal
with him lell back behind il, and used il as
breastwork, with their colors placed on tn
wall
finecy our COlor-serpeant, had fallen, pierce,
by several balls. O'DOnnell, Names, Brown
Steptoe and Wills OF the COl0T-Guard, each il
succession was compelled 10
RELINoUIsH TIE ooLoRs
after being severely wounded-Wills aud Step
Toe mortally. The staff had been severed L,
ball few inches below the joining of th
colOrs.
The order was now given 20 charge Mur
phy. the last of the Color -Guard-after
ward shot through the breast at the Wilder
ness-seiZed the cOlOTs by the remnant of th
Etad and swinging bis hat around his hea
and whirling around, Joined the regiment in
dash toward the wall
ln a few minutes the fight was ended. Capi
McCuen captured a stand of colors. Two other
were taken, torn from their shafts and retaine
by the captOrs. From the time the regimen
moved BIZ the flank until il reached the ston
wall, out Of 360 men 1872 fell killed or wounded
Col. Baxter had been wounded the previou
day. Capts. JAS. Grihiths and Andrew McBrid,
and Lieut. Sutton Jones were killed. Capt.
Loclshart, Cook and SLreeye, and Lieuts. Stew
art, B0laud and Benling were severely wounde(
Gen. Webb, ia his Official report, said:
This brigade captured nearly 1000 prisoner
and slN battle flags, aud picked up 400 stand
arms and @UU sells ~ accoutermcnts. The lose wa
~ officers aud i52 men. The conduct Of the br
gade was most satisfactory.
On Sunday, July 5, the regiment left Get
tysbuFg. After a lapse of "a years the SUI
giYors OF the opposing parties again met at Oh
same place, not IN deadly strife, but under on
flag, with all the animOsities buried, cherishin
NO unpleasant recOiecilons Of the past, but FRI
Az the conviction that the safety OF our countr
lies in the Union Of the States
Gettysburg Memorial Commission.
The Commission appointed by Gov. Beavt
m.I I..wv. A.